Movable partition structures



March 21, 1967 B. D. MALONE, JR

MOVABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May T18, 1964INVENTOR BENJAMW D. MALONE JR ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 MALONE, JR3,30%,816

MOVABLE PART I TION STRUCTURES Filed May 28. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Ceiling Line 5 69 @i 2 2a 42 Q Ffloos Line INVENTOR BENJAMIN D. MALONE,JR.

ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY BENJAMW D. MALONE, JR.

vywm/h B. D. MALONE, JR

MOVABLE PARTIT ION STRUCTURES March 21, 1967 Filed May 28. 1964 March21, 1967 B. D. MALONE, JR

MOVABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 28. 1964 R O T.N. E W m ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 B. D. MALONE, JR

MOVABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 filed may T18, 1964 2.3::or 2 5d INVENTOR BENJAMIN D. MALONE, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,309,816 MOVABLE PARTITIQN STRUCTURESBenjamin 1). Malone, Jr., R0. Box 1415, Punta Gorda, Fla. 33950 FiledMay 28, 1964, Ser. No. 370,873 12 Claims. (Cl. 49-127) This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in movable partition structuresof the general type which embodies a set of panels arranged so that theymay be moved from a coplanar partition forming position wherein theirside edges are in abutment to a laterally stacked storage position whenthe use of the partition is not desired. As such, the partitionstructure of the invention may be conveniently used to divide a spacesuch as a room into two smaller rooms, while permitting expeditiousconversion of the two smaller rooms into one large room by the simpleexpedient of moving the panels of the partition to their stacked,storage position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a movable partitionstructure of this type wherein the panels are supported wholly by afloor track and stabilized by an overhead or ceiling track, so thatsuspension of the panels from the ceiling is not necessary.

As another of its objects, the invention provides a floor track and anoverhead track which coact to effectively guide the panels in theirmovement between the partition forming and the storage positions, thisbeing attained without undue friction, binding, or instability.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved overhead orceiling track arrangement utilizing a floating action so that anydownward deflection of the ceiling under load is absorbed by theoverhead track and is not transmitted to the panels so as to interferewith free movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved gasket means atthe side edges and at the top and bottom edges of the panels, suchgasket means being coordinated so that when gaskets at the side edgesare compressed by abutment of the panels in their partition formingposition, the gaskets at the top and bottom edges become expanded intosealing engagement with the overhead track and with the floor track, yetwhen the panels are separated, the engagement of the top and bottomgaskets with the tracks is broken to facilitate free movement of thepanels.

The several panels of the invention are individually movable and one ofthe features of the arrangement lies in the fact that when the panelsare in the partition forming position, one of them may be moved toprovide a passageway or a door for passage from one side of thepartition to the other, without disturbing the other panels in the set.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simpleconstruction, in its durability, eflicient operation, and in itsadaptability to convenient and economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention will be understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereinlike characters of reference are used to designate like parts, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the movable partition structure,showing the panels thereof in the partition forming position;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the partition panels inrelation to the floor track;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing thepanels moved or moving to their stacked, storage position;

33%,816 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 'ice FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentaryvertical sectional view of one of the panels, taken substantially in theplane of the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional detail of the lower edgeportion of the panels, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal sectional view, takensubstantially in the plane of the line 66 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary group sectional view of the gasket betweenadjacent panels when the latter are separated;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the gasket means;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified panelconstruction;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of one of the roller assemblies;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of theline 11-11 in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of theline 1212 in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of one of the trolleys;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail of the trolley;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary plan view of the floor track;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view of the track, taken substantially in theplane of the line 1616 in FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view of the track, taken in the plane of eitherof the lines 17-17 and 1717 in FIGURE 15; and

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of the latch operating mechanism andhandle means used in the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularlyto FIGURES 1-3, the movable partition structure in accordance with theinvention is designated generally by the reference numeral 29 andembodies a set of vertical panels 21, 21' which are movable from acoplanar, partition forming position in which the side edges of thepanels are in abutment as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, to a laterallystacked, storage position as shown in FIGURE 3. The panels areindividually movable and any number of them may be used so as to spanthe distance between opposite side walls 22 of a room which is to bedivided by the partition. Immovable strip-like panel sections 23 arefixedly mounted against the room walls 23 to complete the partitionspan, and one of the movable panels, in this instance identified as 21',serves in the manner of a door whereby access may be gained from oneside of the partition to the other without disturbing the remainingpanels in the set. The panels 21, 21' and 23 are similarly constructed,as will be hereinafter described in detail. However, for purposes of theimmediate description, the panels may be regarded simply as verticallydisposed, rectangular panels, each having a pair of side edges and upperand lower edges.

Provided at the lower edge of each of the panels 21, 21' is a pair ofroller assemblies, designated as 24a and 24b in the instance of each ofsaid panels. The rollers of these assemblies respectively engage a pairof spaced parallel rails 25:: and 25b of an elongated floor track 25,whereby the movable panels are supported from the floor. It will benoted that the roller assemblies are spaced longitudinally on the loweredge of the panel and that, as is best shown in FIGURE 4, they aretransversely offset so that the rollers in each pair of assemblies mayengage the respective rails of the floor track. The roller assemblies24a, 24b are similar in construction which will be detailed hereinafter,but for the time being it is to be noted that the roller in eachassembly may turn about a vertical axis as well as rotate on ahorizontal axle, the turning movement being necessary to permit therollers to follow the track when the panels are moved to their stacked,storage position. The floor track 25 is mounted flush with the floorline as indicated in FIGURE 4 and is suitably anchored to sub-floorsupporting means, examplified at 26.

Each of the panels 21, 21' is provided at its upper edge with astabilizing trolley 27 which rides in an overhead track 28. The latteris installed in a ceiling if the partition extends from the floor to theceiling, although the overhead track may be disposed below the ceilingif the partition is of a lesser height. The trolley 27 will be detailedhereinafter, but for the moment it may be noted that it includes a pairof transversely spaced wheels 29 riding on a pair of spaced parallelrails 36 of the overhead track 28, the wheels 29 being mounted on across shaft or axle 31 carried by a block 32 which, in turn, may turnabout the axis of a vertical supporting stud 33, so that like the rollerassemblies 24a, 24b at the lower edge of each panel, the trolley 27 atits upper edge may be turned or steered during movement of the panels.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 15, it will be observed that one end portionof the floor track 25 is provided with two lateral offsets or branches,including a branch rail 250 which is reversely curved and constitutes acontinuation of the rail 25b, and a branch rail 25d which extends fromthe track laterally toward the end of the branch rail 250. When theseveral panels 21, 21' are disposed in coplanar relation to form thepartition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side edges of the panels are inabutment and the rollers 24a of the panels engage the floor track rail25a, while the rollers 24b of the panels 21 engage the rail 25b. Theroller 24b of the panel 21' would ordinarily also engage the rail 25b,but inasmuch as the roller 24]) of the panel 21 ride-s only along therail 25d, it is turned into alignment with that rail, as will beapparent from FIG. 2. The panel 21' may be moved from the position shownin FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3 by pushing the same in the directionof the arrow 34, which causes the roller 24b of that panel to rideoutwardly along the rail 25d while the roller 24a thereof rides alongthe rail 25a, so that the panel 21' ultimately assumes a 'foldedposition against the wall of the room as illustrated in FIG. 3. This ispossible without disturbing or moving any of the other panels 21 andshifting of the panel 21 to the folded position provides a passageway ordoorway through which access may be had from either side of thepartition to the other.

If the other panels 21 of the partition are to be moved out of the wayas well, this is done by moving each such panel individually, slidingthe same along the floor track rails 25a, 25b until the roller 24b ofthe panel enters upon the offset rail 250. However, as the movementprogrosses, the roller 24:: of the panel still continues to travel alongthe rail 25a, and ultimately the panel becomes stacked laterallyalongside of the panel 21', as shown in FIG. 3. All of the panels 21 aremoved in the same manner, so that eventually all the panels 21 arestacked side by side against the panel 21' in the storage position andthe partition becomes non-existent apart from the presence of the fixedend panel sections 23.

When the panels 21, 21' are in their partition forming position, thepanels 21 cannot be moved without first moving the panel 21. The latter,of course, functions as a door through the partition as alreadymentioned, and it is desirable to provide means for locking or latchingthe door panel 21' in coplanar relation with the partition, that is, inits closed position. Such means may assume the form of a pair ofslidably projectable and retractable latches 35, provided in both sideedge portions of the panel 21, such latches being receivable in sockets36 provided in the panel 21 and in the panel member 23 adjacent to thepanel 21', as shown in FIG. 1. The panel 21 also carries an operatingmechanism 37 for the 4 latches, including handle means 38, as will beherein-after explained.

The foregoing describes the general arrangement and operation of theinvention so that a more detailed explanation of the structure of thevarious components may now be presented as follows:

THE PANEL STRUCTURE The panels 21, 21' and 23 are of sturdy, lightweight construction, two alternative embodiments of which are disclosed.One of these, which is the simpler, is exemplified by the panel member23 in FIGURE 9 and comprises two outer skins 40 with a core 41sandwiched therebetween. The skins 40 may consist of tough, rigid boardsknown as Masonite, Flexboard, Glasal, or the like, while the core 41consists of a low density, foamed synthetic resin, such as foamedpolystyrene. The core with its skins is edged by a perimetric frame ofextruded metal such as aluminum, a portion of such a frame appearing at42. The frame is bonded to the edge portion of the panel by a soft latexcomposition 43 which also serves as insulating means so that soundfrequency vibrations of sound waves impinging upon the panel do nottelegraph through the metallic frame. The frame members of the panelhave different cross-sections for different purposes, as will behereinafter explained.

The alternative embodiment of the panel structure is somewhat morecomplicated and is typified in FIGS. 47. This embodiment utilizes twounits of the same but somewhat thinner construction as shown in FIGURE9, which units are spaced apart by suitable spacers 44 of wood, or thelike, so that a space exists between them, which space is filled by ablanket 45 of glass fiber filament-s such as Microlite. The framemembers of the double panel are bonded thereto by the latex composition43, as already mentioned. In its assembled form, the double sandwichpanel of FIGS. 47 approximates the thickness of the single sandwichpanel of FIG. 9.

The side edges of the several panels are interfitted as isdiagrammatically shown in FIGURE 2 so that when the panels are incoplanar abutting relation, the partition formed thereby issubstantially sturdy. This interfitting involves a tongue-and-groovearrangement 46 at the junction of the end panel 21 with the adjacent,fixed panel member 23, and a similar arrangement 46 at the junction ofadjacent panels 21, regardless of how many of them there may be.However, zig-zag interfits 47 are provided at the junctions of the panel21 with the adjacent panel 21 and with the adjacent fixed member 23, sothat the panel 21 may be moved out of the partitionin the direction ofthe arrow 34. The interfits 46, 47 between the panels are afforded byframe side members of special cross-section which are used for edgingthe panels, as will be apparent from FIGURE 6. Thus, the interfit 46 iseffected by the provision of an extruded frame side member 48 whichforms a groove for reception of a tongue 49 on a co-acting frame sidemember of the adjacent panel. Similarly, the interfit 47 is effected bythe provision of complementally zig-zagged extruded frame side members50 and 51. The frame members 42 at the side edges of the fixed panels 23which abut the room walls 22 are simply in the form of U-shapedchannels, as shown.

The bottom edges of the panels 21, 21' are edged with frame members 52of the cross-section shown in FIG- URE 5, and these frame members arerecessed at proper points to accommodate the roller assemblies 24a, 24b,as will be apparent from FIGURE 4.

The to edges of the panels 21, 21 are edged with frame members 53 whichhave a dropped center portion 53' to accommodate the stabilizingtrolleys 27, also as shown in FIGURE 4.

THE SEALING GASKETS These are provided at the side as well as top andbottom edges of the panels to exclude passage of air and impede passageof sound through the partition. The gaskets are hollow and are formedfrom resiliently compressible material such as rubber, for example, atypical gasket cross section at panel side edges in the interfit 46being shown at 54 in FIGS. 6 and 7, while a corresponding side gasket atthe interfit 47 is shown at 55. It will be apparent that when the panelsare moved into abutting relation as indicated by the arrow 56 in FIG. 7,the gaskets 54 will become compressed and most of the air in theirhollow interior will be expelled. The gaskets 54 are held in dovetailedor undercut grooves 57 formed in the frame members 48, and ribs 58 areprovided on the gaskets for engagement by the tongue portion of theframe members 49, whereby to compress the gaskets in the illustratedmanner when the side panels come into abutment. Similarly, the gaskets55 are held in undercut grooves 59 provided in the frame members 50.

At the upper edge, the panels 21, 21 are provided with hollow,resiliently compressible and expansible gaskets 60 held in undercutgrooves 61 of the upper frame members 53, while the lower edges of thepanels are equipped with similar gaskets 62 held in the grooves 63. Theconfiguration of the upper and lower gaskets 6t 62 will be apparent fromFIGURE 4, and it is to be particularly noted that on each of the panels21, 21, the hollow interiors of the side edge gaskets 54 communicatewith the hollow interiors of the upper edge gaskets 60 and of the loweredge gaskets 62 and that the gasket ends are closed and hermeticallysealed as shown in FIG- URE 8, so that when the side edge gaskets 54 arecompressed between the abutting side edges of the panels, air isexpelled therefrom into the upper and lower edge gaskets 6t), 62 andthese gaskets consequently become inflated or expanded into a sealingengagement with the overhead track 28 and the floor track so as toeffectively seal the entire partition. As shown in FIGURE 4, the loweredge gaskets 62 upon expansion are in sealing contact with flanges 64 ofthe floor track 25, while the upper edge gaskets 60 upon expansion arein sealing contact with flanges 65 which carry the rails of the overheadtrack 28. Of course, when the partition panels are moved out of abuttingrelation, the side edge gaskets 54 expand and the upper and lower edgegaskets 60, 62 contract, so that they do not interfere with freemovement of the panels.

THE OVERHEAD TRACK The overhead or ceiling track 28 runs in a straightline from one side of the room to the other and consists of two majorcomponents, that is, a trolley engaging track section 28a and a ceilingsupported track section 2812. The sectional configuration of thesesections will be apparent from FIGURE 4, and while the section 28b issecured to the ceiling framework 66 by suitable screws 67, the section28a is free to slide upwardly and downwardly within limits inside of thesection 28b. Thus, the section 28a floats inside the section 28b, orconversely, the section 28b may slide upwardly or downwardly on thesection 28a, if the latter were assumed to be held at a fixed distanceabove the floor, which in fact it is by virtue of the trolleys 27engaging the rails 30 on the flanges 65 of the track section 28a. Thefloating relationship of the track sections 28a, 28b permits the ceilingsupported section 28b to become downwardly deflected under a ceilingload, without transferring such deflection to the track section 28a andcausing the panels to bind in their movement along the floor and ceilingtracks. In the region of the stacked panel storage area, the overheadtrack section 28a may be fastened against vertical movement relative tothe section 28b so as to prevent any tendency of the floor track rollers24a to run off the floor track. Such fastening of the overhead tracksections may be effected by limiting screws 68, extending through thetrack sections into the ceiling framework 66, as shown in FIGURE 4.

ill

6 THE STABILIZING TROLLEYS For most part, the structure of thestabilizing trolleys 27 has already been described, the same includingthe wheels 29 rotatable on the cross shaft 31 which is carried by theblock 32, the latter in turn being supported by the stud 33 so that thetrolley is capable of turning about the vertical axis of the stud. Thestud 33 is screw-threaded into the block 32 and secured in an adjusted,vertically extended position by a nut 69, while the lower end portion ofthe stud is freely rotatable in suitable bearing means 7% carried by asupporting plate 71. The latter is slidably positioned in the dropcenter portion 53' of the upper edge frame member 53, and as is bestshown in FIGURE 13, spacers 72 and guide plates 73, fastened to theframe member 53 by screws 74, are utilized to retain the trolley inplace, while allowing a certain amount of longitudinal movement theretowhich is necessary to facilitate proper movement of the panels.

THE ROLLER ASSEMBLIES The roller assemblies 24a, 2412 at the bottom edgeof the panels are similar in construction, which is typified in FIGS.10-12. Each assembly consists of a rectangular base plate 75 which isformed with an annular bearing race 76 for anti-friction bearings 77interposed between the race 76 and an inner race 78 provided at the edgeof a carrier plate 79. The latter is recessed to provide clearance for agrooved roller 89 which is mounted by an anti-friction bearing 81 on anaxle 82 supported by a pair of brackets 83. These brackets are securedto the carrier plate 79 by the screws 84 and project below the loweredge of the roller 80, where they are provided with inturned ears 85. Asshown in FIG. 4, these cars underlie the floor track rail 25a or 25b onwhich the roller 86 is riding, so as to prevent any possibility of theroller leaving the track. The rotatability of the carr er plate 79 inthe bearing means 76, 77, 73 enables the roller to turn about a verticalaxis during movement of the panels between the partition formingposition and the storage area.

THE LATCH MECHANISM As already mentioned, the partition panel 21 islocked in coplanar relation with the panels 21 by the latches 35, andthese are operated by the mechanism 37. The latter includes a pair ofconnecting rods 35 which are connected to the respective latches 35 andare pivoted to studs 87 on a disc 88 which is secured to a shaft 8?, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 18. The shaft 89 is rotatably journalled inrectangular, box-like sockets 99 which are recessed into the oppositefaces of the panel 21, and suitable handles 91 are secured to the endsof the shaft 89 so that the latches may be operated from either side ofthe panel. The box-like sockets also accommodate the aforementionedhandles 38 which are pivotally mounted in the sockets as at 92. Thehandles are thus unabtrusive, but may be readily swung upwardly andoutwardly from the sockets when the panel 21' is to be moved.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferredembodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents maybecome apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to thisdisclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a movable partition structure, the combination of a set ofvertical panels each having side edges and upper and lower edges, anelongated floor track having a pair of spaced parallel rails andincluding a laterally offset branch rail communicating with one of saidrails adjacent one end of said floor track, a pair of longitudinallyspaced rollers provided at the lower edge of each of said panels andengaging the respective rails of the floor track, an elongated overheadtrack, a stabilizing trolley provided at the upper edge of each panel invertical alignment with one of said rollers at the lower edge, saidtrolley engaging said overhead track, said panels being individuallymovable from a coplanar partition forming position wherein their sideedges are in abutment to a laterally stacked position overlying saidbranch rail, and latch means projectable and retractable through theside edge of one of said panels into the side edge of the next adjacentpanel when said panels are in abutment.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rollers and saidtrolley are rotatable about vertical axes.

3. In a movable partition structure, a vertical panel having side edgesand upper and lower edges, a floor track including a pair of spacedparallel rails one of which is provided with a branch offset laterallyfrom the other rail, a pair of roller assemblies mounted atlongitudinally spaced points at the lower edge of said panel, each ofsaid roller assemblies including a support plate, a carrier rotatableabout a vertical aXis in said support plate, and a roller rotatableabout a horizontal axis in said carrier, the rollers of said rollerassemblies engaging the respective rails of said floor track, a straightoverhead track including a pair of spaced parallel rails, and a singlestabilizing trolley provided at the upper edge of said panel in verticalalignment with one of said roller assemblies at the lower edge, saidtrolley including a support plate, a block rotatable about a verticalaxis on said last mentioned support plate, a cross shaft extendinghorizontally through said block, and a pair of trolley wheels rotatablymounted on end portions of said cross shaft, said wheels engaging therespective rails of said overhead track, said panel being movable alongsaid floor track and laterally stabilized by the overhead track in itsmovement from a partition forming position coplanar with the overheadtrack to a storage position wherein it overlies said rail branch nearlyat right angles to its partition forming plane.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with means forvertically adjusting said block relative to the support plate of saidtrolley.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with means for mountingthe support plate of said trolley on the upper edge of said panel forlongitudinal sliding movement of the trolley support plate within limitsalong the panel upper edge.

6. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said overhead trackincludes a trolley engaging section having said pair of rails providedthereon for engagement by the trolley wheels, and a ceiling supportedsection movable vertically relative to the trolley engaging section,whereby the ceiling supported section may deflect under load withouttransmitting its deflection to the trolley engaging section.

7. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with compressible gasketmeans provided at one side edge of said panel for sealing engagementwith an abutting side edge of another panel, and expansible gasket meansprovided at the upper and lower edges of said panel, said expansiblegasket means being sealingly engageable with said overhead track andwith said floor track upon compression of said compressible gasketmeans, said compressible and expansible gasket means comprising hollowresilient gaskets, said gaskets being hermetically sealed but incommunication with one another to facilitate flow of air therebetween.

8. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with a latch projectableand retractable through at least one side edge of said panel.

9. In a movable partition structure, a vertical panel having side edgesand upper and lower edges, a floor track including a pair of spacedparallel rails, a pair of roller assemblies mounted at longitudinallyspaced points at the lower edge of said panel, each of said rollerassemblies including a support plate, a carrier rotatable about avertical axis in said support plate, and a roller rotatable about ahorizontal axis in said carrrier, the rollers of said roller assembliesengaging the respective rails of said floor track, an overhead trackincluding a pair of spaced parallel rails, a stabilizing trolleyprovided at the upper edge of said panel in vertical alignment with oneof said roller assemblies at the lower edge, said trolley including asupport plate, a block rotatable about a vertical axis on said lastmentioned support plate, a cross shaft extending horizontally throughsaid block, and a pair of trolley wheels rotatably mounted on endportions of said cross shaft, said wheels engaging the respective railsof said overhead track, means for vertically adjusting said blockrelative to the support plate of said trolley, means for mounting thesupport plate of said trolley on the upper edge of said panel forlongitudinal sliding movement of the trolley support plate within limitsalong the panel upper edge, said overhead track including a trolleyengaging section having said pair of rails provided thereon forengagement by the trolley wheels, and a ceiling supported sectionmovable vertically relative to the trolley engaging section, whereby theceiling supported section may deflect under load without transmittingits deflection to the trolley engaging section, and compressible gasketmeans provided at one side edge of said panel for sealing engagementwith an abutting side edge of another panel, and expansible gasket meansprovided at the upper and lower edges of said panel, said expansiblegasket means being sealingly engageable with said overhead track andwith said floor track upon compression of said compressible gasketmeans, said compressible and expansible gasket means comprising hollowresilient gaskets, said gaskets being hermetically sealed but incommunication with one another to facilitate flow of air therebetween.

it In a movable partition structure, the combination of a set ofvertical panels each having side edges and upper and lower edges, afloor track including a pair of spaced parallel rails one of which isprovided with a branch offset laterally from the other rail, a pair oflongitudinally spaced rollers provided at the lower edge of each paneland engaging the respective rails of said floor track, a straightoverhead track including a pair of spaced parallel rails, and a singlestabilizing trolley provided at the upper edge of each of said panels invertical alignment with one of said rollers at the lower edge, saidtrolley including a support plate, a block rotatable about a verticalaxis on said support plate, a cross shaft extending horizontally throughsaid block, and a pair of trolley wheels rotatably mounted on endportions of said cross shaft, said wheels engaging the respective railsof said overhead track, said panels being individually movable alongsaid floor track and laterally stabilized by the overhead track in theirmovement from a partition forming position wherein the panels arecoplanar with the overhead track and have their side edges in abutment,to a laterally stacked storage position wherein the panels overlie therail branch of the floor track nearly at right angles to their partitionforming plane.

11. The structure as defined in claim it) together with compressiblegasket means provided at one side edge of each of said panels forsealing engagement with an abutting side edge of an adjacent panel whenthe panels are in their partition forming position, and expansiblegasket means provided at the upper and lower edges of said panels, saidexpansible gasket means being sealingly engageable with said overheadtrack and with said floor track upon compression of said compressiblegasket means, said compressible and expansible gasket means comprisinghollow resilient gaskets, said gaskets being hermetically sealed but incommunication with one another to facilitate flow of air therebetween.

12. In a movable partition structure, the combination of a set ofvertical panels each having side edges and upper and lower edges, afloor track including a pair of spaced parallel rails one of which isprovided with a branch offset laterally from the other rail, a pair oflongitudinally spaced rollers provided at the lower edge of each of saidpanels and engaging the respective rails of said floor track, a straightoverhead track, and a single 9 10 stabilizing trolley provided at theupper edge of each 2,524,663 10/ 1950 Heijmer 52578 panel in engagementwith said overhead track, said panels 2,657,436 11/ 1953 Fairhurst n20l9 being individually movable from a coplanar partition 2,864,13212/1958 Clement 52 578 forming position wherein their side edges are inabutment 2 945,53 5 7 1960 Haws 1 0 199 X to a laterally stackedposition wherein they overlie said 5 3 100 9 3 19 3 coverley 2 19 railbranch at nearly right angles to their partition forming 3,235,9152/1966 Glaser 20 19 plane, said overhead track including a trolleyengaging section and a ceiling supported section movable verticallyFOREIGN PATENTS relative to the trolley engaging section, whereby theceil- 624,567 7/ 1961 Canada. ing supported section may deflect underload without 10 985,354 4/1951 F transmitting its deflection to thetrolley engaging section. 665,263 9 /1938 Germany,

374,684 9/1939 It 1 References Cited by the Examiner a y UNITED sTATEsPATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 2,052,089 8/ 1936Fairhurst 20-19 15 KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

1. IN A MOVABLE PARTITION STRUCTURE, THE COMBINATION OF A SET OFVERTICAL PANELS EACH HAVING SIDE EDGES AND UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, ANELONGATED FLOOR TRACK HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RAILS ANDINCLUDING A LATERALLY OFFSET BRANCH RAIL COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAIDRAILS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID FLOOR TRACK, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLYSPACED ROLLERS PROVIDED AT THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID PANELS ANDENGAGING THE RESPECTIVE RAILS OF THE FLOOR TRACK, AN ELONGATED OVERHEADTRACK, A STABILIZING TROLLEY PROVIDED AT THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH PANEL INVERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID ROLLERS AT THE LOWER EDGE, SAIDTROLLEY ENGAGING SAID OVERHEAD TRACK, SAID PANELS BEING INDIVIDUALLYMOVABLE FROM A COPLANAR PARTITION FORMING POSITION WHEREIN THEIR SIDEEDGES ARE IN ABUTMENT TO A LATERALLY STACKED POSITION OVERLYING SAIDBRANCH RAIL, AND LATCH MEANS PROJECTABLE AND RETRACTABLE THROUGH THESIDE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS INTO THE SIDE EDGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENTPANEL WHEN SAID PANELS ARE IN ABUTMENT.